Jukebox Software: "Arcade Music Box 2006" (v30 released, final version)

[Space Fractal]

Hi Anyone.

I do now try to keep all update in this thread, instead to create new ones. So the next updates is now here, where only the title may change the version number and released date....

FOR NEW USERS OF THIS BOARD:

WHAT IS ARCADE MUSIC BOX?

This is a fullscreen HTPC like jukebox interface, that was designed to works in a windows based MAME cabinet with limited controls in mind. I have used MAMEWAH frontend for MAME as it reference, and it act very similar (thanks Minwah).

There was many jukebox, that use ID3 tags to display the album, artist and so on. If you have a large collection, you may not have remembed to tag them all. This is why I did my own application to avoid ID3 tagging. Instead, this application use Dir Mask and File Mask to check, how your collection was used on your harddrive. Arcade Music Box does support real ID3v1 and ID3v2 tags, if you want to use them trough.

Arcade MUSIC Box do also act like a MS Explorer, but this is in full screen, and there are no sign of Windows (unless you use the windowed version of course).

Arcade MUSIC Box does not need to check all files on the harddrive at the start-up, so the loading is fast (few seconds). It checks the files, while you open the folders, like you are was using Explorer. Arcade Music Box support file caching for faster read, so read the directory lots faster (it use it own data fir for that), so it use that, when you open the folder for second time.

BONUS GAME: As a little great bonus feature, Arcade MUSIC Box have a little "name the song" minigame, which some great people have requested on the great ArcadeControls.com forum.

www.arcademusicbox.com (it free, and you can donate if you want)


TODAY, A NEW RELEASE:

25.06.2005: Version 2.03 - released

• Hiscore for the minigame now works.
  
• Input for fullscreen now works (it diddent work, when you saved files for the playlists, but it worked fine in windowed mode).
• Shortcuts on desktop and quickstart didn't work, that now fixed.
• Updated the lowest resolution skins to work a bit better on a Arcade Monitor.
• Minor bugfixes here and there.

NB: The default EN.txt language file have been added a few words, so remember to translate them to

Best Regaards
Space Fractal

[pacman]

Hi Space fractal,

I am using an Arcade VGA+Arcade monitor...do you confirm that I can only use the specified resolution (the one with an 'a') with this graphic card ? Tried to run AMB in 640x480 but I got a prompt crash message (window XP with SP2).

If I run it with the 'a' resolution then it is fine but I cannot get AMB working with joystick and buttons with the default mapping (I am also using Mamewah and evrything works fine using the J-Pac). I tryed then to remap buttons from the AMB config windows but I just get a blank instead of the mapped key.....

[Space Fractal]

I have not tried that resoulutaion on my Arcade VGA 9200 based machine, but it work fine with 321x240. I would soon to test it with all resoulutions, what it happens on my arcade machine (Im using the GPWiz49 as the interface).

What kind of the message did you get in the 640x480 resoulations?

Do the key respons in the remap configuration?

 - The file "ascii.dat" must been exists in the bin dir, otherwice the remap just empty.

 - This file list the keys, that can been configuration. This text file could been changed by a thirdpart, this must about 1.15kb big.

 - Otherwice you can get a patch, that may have fixed that in the config.

[pacman]

Well in 640x480 AMB do not launch at all but I have instead the classic XP error message saying that the program will close because of an error.

Thanks for the tip, I will check later if the Ascii.dat file is in the bin directory. In case not were can I find it ?

[Space Fractal]

hmmm? I forgot to add that file in v2.03, sorry. Download ascii.dat and put that file in the bin directory in your arcade music box directory. I Reupload the new setup, that including that file.  Im doing that, when I can caugt my friend, that have the "download" server.

ooops.

http://arcademusicbox.playitgame.org/ascii.dat

(it a text file)

[pacman]

Many thanks Space Fractal  ..you are doing a great job with your Jukebox, I cannot wait playing all my nice Billboards from 1975 to 2000 

May I suggest for the future releases to add also a search engine ? It would be helpfull when using a large mp3 database to find out the song in a few seconds..

[Space Fractal]

May I suggest for the future releases to add also a search engine ? It would be helpfull when using a large mp3 database to find out the song in a few seconds..

I have thinked about that under developing, but because AMB dosen't use a redix or mysql, I can not made it yet. Alternate, i could made a search feature to a playlists (and made one big playlists, that hold all songs)?

We let see!!

[pacman]

Well I confirm that now it is working like a charm 
I still have the 640x480 issue but I believe this is a driver issue with AVGA cards.

Just one thing : I am using MP3 with ID3 tags but I cannot have both Artist and Song name together in the list...do you know by chance how can I change that ? 

[Space Fractal]

Well I confirm that now it is working like a charm

[pacman]

Well the thing is that all my MP3's have this name structure : Artist - Song name. But when displayed in AMB I have only the song name...

[Space Fractal]

You need to use the "File Mask" feature (use the configuation setup), like #ARTIST#-#TITLE#. (you may remember to add the dot at the line) to use that feature.

[Space Fractal]

Well in 640x480 AMB do not launch at all but I have instead the classic XP error message saying that the program will close because of an error.

Same behavior here, thanks for the tip.

I went back, when/if I (can) have fixing that. The 640x480 and 321x240 do not have a real different, because it was designed for both resolutions yet (I have allways used the 321x240 skin).


EDIT: 640x480 bug is now fixed !!

I release this when 2.032 (or 2.04) are made.... (in very few days). I need to add some suggestions first.

[Space Fractal]

Version 2.04 Released

• Fixed a stupid 640x480 crash bug.
  
• Fixed a small Dir Mask issue, if / was used instead of \.
• Artist names from ID3 tags can now display directly to the file names (enable it from the options menu, if you want this feature).

NB: Added a word to the language file.


There are a new skin to download.....

[pacman]

Hi Space fractal

Just to let you know that AMB 2.04 cannot be downloaded from your web site...the download link is broken..

[Space Fractal]

Fixed!

Hotlinking not allowed , the file was in that place.

I have not updated from my download links yet, because I'm a not home, but you can get it here:

http://www.geocities.com/spacefractal/



V2.042 released
Just a various bug fixing release (why i didden't make a new post, but edit this one).....

[Space Fractal]

24.07.2005: v2.044 Release

• Fixed a Screensaver bug, if no mouse control was used (it didden't work).
• The manual is moved to the online page.
• Moved to a new domain.

Yes, I got a new homepage and moved to a new domain: http://www.arcademusicbox.com

So no more Geocites space, and I handle the downloads myself.

I hope it now very stable. If you still found more bugs and request, I would like to known.

NB: I have edited some posts to cooperate with the new homepage.

[Minwah]

There are a new skin to download.....

Looks good   I really must find some more time to set this up on my cabinet...

[Akide]

24.07.2005: v2.044 Release

• Fixed a Screensaver bug, if no mouse control was used (it didden't work).
• The manual is moved to the online page.
• Moved to a new domain.

Yes, I got a new homepage and moved to a new domain: http://www.arcademusicbox.com

So no more Geocites space, and I handle the downloads myself.

I hope it now very stable. If you still found more bugs and request, I would like to known.

NB: I have edited some posts to cooperate with the new homepage.

Sorry, download of Arcade Music Box don't work.

[Space Fractal]

Do you got the antileech page?

I have proctected the file with a antileech php script, so you may use LEFT click to download, and do NOT use any download acceletators or d blockers. Some of these may remove HTTP_REFERER infomartion, and this need to been supported.

[Akide]

Do you got the antileech page?

I have proctected the file with a antileech php script, so you may use LEFT click to download, and do NOT use any download acceletators or d blockers. Some of these may remove HTTP_REFERER infomartion, and this need to been supported.

The message for download appear but when i select to save it go down immediately ((
...Thank you for your work!

[Space Fractal]

Download should now work in other browsers than Internet Explorer (it cracked in Mozilla).

Im now use my hosts own hotlinking protection.....

[Akide]

Download should now work in other browsers than Internet Explorer (it cracked in Mozilla).

Im now use my hosts own hotlinking protection.....

Now work fine, THANK YOU very much! 
Now finally i can use the  Arcade Music Box!!! 

[pacman]

Hi Space Fractal,

Many thanks for your ini file, now after a couple of checkings AMB is working fine with Mamewah

Your jukebox software is great and constantly improved . I would suggest to add aldo a music search engine in future releases

I was also thinking that for people using it in a MAME Cab it would be also nice to have a skin with some 80's arcade games characters (pacman, mario,donkeykong and so on)..

[Space Fractal]

Hi Space Fractal,
Your jukebox software is great and constantly improved . I would suggest to add aldo a music search engine in future releases

Arcade Music Box is unlike many other jukebox not do have any indexing, but it is just a MS Explorer like overlay. But I can try to make a search engine to the playlists dat (m3u is still need to been converted to dat, so these contain id3 tags) files instead, because these files can been read very fast.

I do not known, when I made the search feature, but I add soon it to my todo list.

[Space Fractal]

Version 2.05 Released:

• A simple search feature, that using a "search.m3u" file.
• A bug un the m3u->dat convert for albums, that didden't tagged correct.
• Playlist files, that use in the minigame, does not display in the playlists, but only in the game.
• It autoselect 321x240 for ArcadeVGA users, when a 320x240 skin are used. No more use of the speciel 321x240 skins

Yes, Im finally made a simple search feature. It is not the best, but it work well. Look the manual, how to get it to work.

[RTj]

This looks perfect for my MAME set up! Thank you!

Was just wondering if there was a jukebox style prog that would allow selection with only joystick/buttons. AMB sounds just right!

Cheers!
 

[RTj]

Is there a way to create skins for AMB yet? Just that i'd like to create a skin for it that looks similar to the MAMEwah skin i made.

Oh and for a feature: how about a random function? Where on free play it will play random songs from the list of albums & singles?

Other than that, its a top prog! Love it to bits and is easily the best jukebox prog i've come across and i've tried most of them!

Thanks!
RTj

[Space Fractal]

Is there a way to create skins for AMB yet? Just that i'd like to create a skin for it that looks similar to the MAMEwah skin i made.

This is possible, but I have not made a "how to make a skin" yet, and I hae not made a skin tool yet. I recommed to dig little around in the skin folder, and you may figure how it works. I have made a another skin to AMB from my Homepage. You can may look to that skin, and look in the ini file, how I did. The ini file is just a text file, and is easy to alter.

Oh and for a feature: how about a random function? Where on free play it will play random songs from the list of albums & singles?

Other than that, its a top prog! Love it to bits and is easily the best jukebox prog i've come across and i've tried most of them!

I allready made this feature. Just add some songs to the queue, and the random appear in the control panel (it the queue mode you can change here).

[RTj]

Hi Space Fractal,
Ah... so i need to add stuff to the queue before the random feature works, ok, gotcha. Was wondering how I couldn't get it to work...    

I had a look at the skins directory and I think i've figured out most of the config file so had a go at creating a skin. Feel free to use it on your website or whatever.
Here's a screen grab of it:

NOTE: this skin is only for 640x480 resolution. If it proves popular then i'll include other resolutions soon.

Here's a link to download the skin:
http://www.ronnietucker.co.uk/RT_AMB_skin.rar

Enjoy!

[Space Fractal]

Ilike your skin. I have uploaded it to my homepage in my skin section. I want to credits you, and not just "A userskin". I should link to your homepage, if you have one?

I have fixes the last bits, you didden't see, because these was only used in the windowed mode. I have made a 320x240 skin, because it show finer on my homepage. It is just a scaled version (AMB support downscaling of backgrounds).

All big icons (nocover etc) have changes to blue (colorize), so it match better to your great skin.

Hope you like it, what I changed.

PS. I found a small bugs in titlenames in the netradio section. There are a another bug, that dosent trunct titlenames in the currect length in the frontpage (notice the "name that song" in 320x240, using RT skin). These are small, and I fix them soon, and made a exe patch to that (would named 2.051).

[RTj]

I've no problem at all with any tweaks you think my skin needed.
I only altered the main 640x480 full screen mode since that's the way I use AMB.

Yeah and i forgot to add a new icon for 'no cover'. But... no matter. I can always update it soon.

Although... i just can't get AMB to add a whole album. And even adding songs to the queue and pressing the button for random doesn't do anything. Probably my button set up though... but a function to choose a random song from all mp3's would be cool (without having to add them to a queue). So you could just load it up, put it on random and leave it to it...      Or like other progs, you could rate a song (say like between 1 and 6 (1 being best) using the p2 buttons?) and it'd play them most often?

Anyway... thats just some ideas i had while playing about with it.

Thanks again for such a cool prog!

[Space Fractal]

Although... i just can't get AMB to add a whole album. And even adding songs to the queue and pressing the button for random doesn't do anything. Probably my button set up though... but a function to choose a random song from all mp3's would be cool (without having to add them to a queue). So you could just load it up, put it on random and leave it to it...

[Space Fractal]

Version 2.052 Released:

• "Add Whole Album" didden't work, if it was displayed on bottom.
• Netradio do now show correct (again). It was truncted few chars.
• Chooses in frontpage do now view correct (it could truncate, wich it should not due).
• "View Queue" Feature is now better. Removed Artist and Albums, and let it show in ther normal places instead.
• Random now randomize all songs (including the first one), if "add whole album" was used.
• Added an another skin in the skin packs

It just a bugfixing release.

[RTj]

Version 2.052 Released:

• "Add Whole Album" didden't work, if it was displayed on bottom.
• Netradio do now show correct (again). It was truncted few chars.
• Chooses in frontpage do now view correct (it could truncate, wich it should not due).
"View Queue" Feature is now better. Removed Artist and Albums, and let it show in ther normal places instead.[/li]
[li]Random now randomize all songs (including the first one), if "add whole album" was used.[/li]
Added an another skin in the skin packs[/li]
[li]

It just a bugfixing release.
[/quote]

A new release! Cool!
I'm on the case...   

[Space Fractal]

Another update: Version 2.06

• The caching system is now detect changes, and it now set to automatic!
  
• Fixed a bug, that displayed flac files wrong.
  
• Cache files need to been recached/updated (it doing that automatic too).
  
• Dotted the minor version number (2.05x to 2.05.x), wich I use in the future.
  
• Coverart do now change, when you just select a directory, before you enter that.

That all!

This version do have a better cache system, so it should not pause between directorys. It do not index all files to the start, but first time you open the folder. Next Time it just read from the cache file instead. It detect any changes in the folder, and recache it.

[jbrem41]

I got a error "Invalid Stream Handle"

[Space Fractal]

hmm? can

[jbrem41]

I configure it, give it a good mp3 path and still same error.  I even tried to reinstall it.  What all does this program need to run. I'm trying to get it to run on win98 SE.

[Space Fractal]

Try this version (please copy and paste it on your adressbar in your browser, you can NOT click on the link):

http://www.arcademusicbox.com/Temp/amb.zip

Copy this exe on the top in the bin directory.

This version create a c:\ArcadeMusicBox.log, that have writting the last file, AMB have tried to open or write.

Wich file and path do it have problem with, look on the file?

[jbrem41]

READ: C:\WINDOWS\Desktop\Software\AMB\Arcade Music Box 2\language/extra

Thats what is says.
I dont know